The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1887-06-23
AN UNHALLowED CONSPIRACY.
A Boston View of the Andover Case and til
Prosecution OF Professor Smyth.

Boston View of the Andover Case and the
Prosecution of Professor Snyth.
Boston Record.
The Andover case is settled, so far as the
board of visitors is concerned. by the expulsion
from his chair as professor of Egbert G. Smyth.
1t is hard TO write in cool LANGUAGE concerning
this GROWING result of one of the most unhal
lowed corspiracies ever entered upon. 1t is hard,
even for men well advanced In years, ministers
of the gospel, lovers of Andover Seminary. to
strain their feelings of indignation at the ending
of this carefully matured plot. We speak of 1t
conspiracy and plot because it is such,
Matched in the minds of a few dissatisfied men,
carried on by willy artlhces which would shame
ordinary politician. and brought to it's con-
summation in a way which takes from the whole
affair any show Of respect.
From the time when Egbert Smyth, q man Of
splendid intellect. of GROWING Christian graces
and of answering moral rectitude, came to
Andover Seminary he has been beset and fol-
lowed by invetera.e foes, for whose course the
appelation of jesuitical would be moderate. The
leader in this prosecution has been Professor
Park, of Andover. who for years has shown,
without concealment, his hatred of DR.. Smyth.
He has aroused to his support body of old
clergymen, not one of them now actively
gagged in pastoral work. who have followed his
lead with a ierceness and animosty which
seem hardly possible in the Christian relation.
Editors OF religious papers, presidents of col
leges. retired clergymen were in this number,
but not one active minister. When Charles
Theodore Russell left the board of visitors at the
seminary on account of age, it was openly boast.
ed that with the advent of Judge Marshall DR..
Smyths fate was sealed. The board of visitors
was besieged with urgent calls to remove him
from his professorshp, and, when a numbe had
been found with courage enough TO make open
charges. it was known from the beginning that
DIR. Eustis and Judge Marshall would vote for
his Deposition.
1t was true that the same charges were
brought against four other professors were
laid at his door. They openly and strongly ad-
mitted that they stood in the same position as
he. Yet, by a subterfuee whose purpose is
apparent. Dr. Eusts withdrew from the hear
ing for few moments while the testimony in
regard TO these four was being put in and
that excuse, that he did not hear the evidence,
the board of visitors has voted that these four
men be excused. Against them personal
hatred was felt They were not the men that
DR.. Eustis and his friends were aiming at But
DIR. Eustis took pains to be present when Dr.
Smyth gave his defense, a defense to which all
the others gave their absolute approval and al
legance and it his vote that turned DIR.
Smyth out of Office. Moreover. these same
seek to make it appear thaa Pre- sident Seelye
approved of this removal of DR.. Smyth. We are
able to state on authority not to be gainsad that
this is not true and that President Seelye voted
throughout for Dr. Smyths retention. By some
other hocus. pocus not yet brought to our
knowledge the actual division in the board of
visitors has thus far been kept silent. 1t will
come out in time.
Thus, to satisfy the spite and malignant hate
of few Christian clergymen against Dr. Smyth,
Andover Seminary has been brought into
of troubles, the Congregational Church has been
rent In twain. and one of the best and purest
Christian ministers in the land has been held up
to public opprobrium- But the public under
stands the case and is not to be deceived. They
see on the one hand few unsparing. relentless
men determined to run down DR.. Smyth, but
behind him they see the best clergvmen, the best
laymen and the best sentiment of his church, a
vote of confidence from his board OF trustees of
IL to i, and unanimous response from
the press and the people of outraged
protest against this conspiracy. There yet re-
mains the appeal to the courts, but there
mains, better still, the appeal to the public
conscience That conscience is on the side of
Professor Smvth. 1t is the side of Christian
charity and Christian decency. 1t is opposed to
malignant personal hatred and the wrecking of
old spites, and the bedraggling in the mud of
Andover Seminary and Christian name to sat-
isfy personal envies and personal anger. But we
pity the men who conceived ard carried out this
conspiracy, and blush In behalf OF
Christianity for this attempt to place unwar-
rantable stigma upon a man whose character
and Christian honesty cannot be smirched by
the efforts thus made against him.